One type of hoarder, rescue hoarders, feel that they have a mission in life to save and protect animals, Bergeron says.

“These individuals are often actively engaged in rescue work, and they may even own a shelter.”

The point he’s making is that you never know who has a hoarding mentality, although Bergeron and others have been trying to find common denominators.

According to Bergeron, animal hoarders can cut across many demographics. However, some studies suggest that animal hoarders are more likely to be female, elderly, isolated, and on the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum.

Also, he says most hoarders have been identified with a mental health condition, such as depression or a panic disorder.

Bergeron made his comments in “Pet Talks,” a regular feature supplied by the Texas A&M veterinary college as a public service.

“The group of people likely to be animal hoarders is so diverse, it is also hard to decipher their motives and to put them into distinct groups,” Bergeron says.

“The best attempt made by researchers is to place the hoarders into three groups: overwhelmed caregiver, rescue hoarder, and exploiter hoarder.”

The overwhelmed caregiver generally arises out of a dramatic event, such as the loss of a loved one, economic hardship, or a health scare, Bergeron says.

The individual may already have many animals and cannot take care of them over time, or will choose to take on more animals to mask the pain and to avoid dealing with the situation.

“They understand that there is a problem, which is why they feel overwhelmed. These individuals generally feel a strong attachment to their animal, which makes addressing the situation more difficult for them.”

Rescue hoarders often believe that they are the only people who can adequately care for their animals, and feel that animals would die without them, says Bergeron.

“These hoarders have a strong need for control, and do feel in control of the situation despite the problems that exist.”

The exploiter hoarders generally lack empathy for people and animals and are indifferent to the harm they cause.

“They have a strong need to feel dominant and to be the expert. Hoarding animals is the outlet they have found to meet all of their needs,” Bergeron says.

Animal hoarding is a behavior that develops over time, and people continue this behavior because it serves a role for them, he says. The function hoarding serves is typically related to regulating emotional needs, and very likely involves other mental health problems, he adds.

It is important to identify the dangerous consequences for pets that animal hoarding can lead to, Bergeron says.

“Ihe nature of hoarding leads to deficits in basic areas of care such as providing food, medical care, and attending to sanitation,” says Bergeron. “Thus, hoarding can lead to starvation, lack of medical
treatment, and increased risk of disease transmission.”

If you suspect a friend or a neighbor is an animal hoarder, he suggests you ask your veterinarian for assistance. Veterinarians will know a responsible agency in the area to contact to get help for the
individual and their pets.

Animal tracks – Military working dogs may now have a better future ahead, according to a story aired on National Public Radio[3].

The dogs were once euthanized when their service days were over. But that is changing as military and civilian families pressure the Defense Department to make it easier for handlers to adopt their canines.

The adoption priority process is to first use the dog as a training aid for other handlers, NPR said. Law enforcement agencies are second in line. Then, families who have lost a loved one in combat, followed by former handlers, and the general public.

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PET CALENDAR

August 13 - The 3rd Annual Auction and Dinner, a benefit for Divine Feline, a group promoting the health and welfare of feral and stray cats, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Highlands Masonic Center, 3550 N Federal Blvd. in Denver.
Information and reservations: www.DivineFeline.org [4]

August 20 - Denkai Animal Sanctuary in Weld County will host ita fundraising dog walk around Windsor Lake from 7 to 9 a.m. For information: info@denkaisanctuary.org or (970) 352-5330.

September 10 – The Wags & Menace foundation sponsors the 22nd Annual Cause for Paws Doggie Dash at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. A 4K run starts at 8:30 a.m. and a 3K walk starts at 8:45 a.m. There will be a pancake breakfast and a pet expo with 20 local businesses. Information:www.boulderhumane.org[5].

October 15 - The 2nd Annual Bow Ties & Tails, a fundraiser for the Canine Partners of the Rockies service dog organization, will be held at Roth Showroom in Aurora. Information:www.caninepartnersoftherockies.org[6] 303-364-9040.